Wichita Man Pleads Guilty
To Robbery, Shooting at Police
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man has pleaded guilty to robbing a Kentucky Fried Chicken and shooting at police as he tried to get away, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Paul F. Sifuentez, 55, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery, one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
In his plea, Sifuentez admitted that on June 7, 2012, he robbed the Kentucky Fried Chicken at 1251 S. Woodlawn in Wichita. During the robbery, he threatened employees with a firearm. He fled the store in a car driven by co-defendant James L. Adamson, 49, Wichita. The getaway car had a personalized tag that read “SAVOY.”
When two officers in a patrol car caught up with the robbers a few blocks from the store, Adamson pulled into a parking lot at the Woodlawn Baptist Church, 960 S. Woodlawn. As one of the officers got out of the patrol car, Sifuentez leaned out of his window and pointed a handgun at her. He fired three shots, shattering the glass on the officer’s car door, before he and Adamson drove away.
The getaway car was found abandoned at the Governeour Manor Apartment complex at 7025 E. Lincoln. Sifuentez was arrested after he was found hiding at the apartment complex. Adamson was arrested later when he returned to his home in the 4400 block of east Boston street.
Sifuentez is set for sentencing Feb. 17. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of 25 years in federal prison.
Co-defendant James L. Adamson, 49, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting a robbery. He is set for sentencing Jan. 30. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Warner are prosecuting.
